News

First Parliament sitting of 2025 on Jan. 07

Published

6 months ago

January 2, 2025

editor

The Secretary-General of Parliament, Mrs. Kushani Rohanadeera stated that Parliament is scheduled to convene from January 7th to January 10th, 2025.

This decision was reached at the Committee on Parliamentary Business held recently (Dec. 31), under the Chairmanship of the Speaker, Dr. Jagath Wickramaratne.

Accordingly, on Tuesday, January 7th, time has been allotted from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for Questions for Oral Answers. Subsequently, from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the Adjournment Debate on “Mid-Year Fiscal Position Report – 2024” by the Government has been scheduled as decided during the meeting held, the Secretary-General said.

On Wednesday, January 8th, time has been allotted from 9:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., for Questions to be asked from the Prime Minister (4 questions). From 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., time has been allotted for 5 Questions for Oral Answers.

From 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m the debate on Regulations under the Imports and Exports (Control) Act, Order under the Foreign Exchange Act, Regulations under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, Regulation under the Casino Business (Regulation) Act, Order under the Ports and Airports Development Levy Act and Regulations under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act are scheduled to be taken up.

Moreover, time has been allotted from 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m for Questions at the Adjournment Time.

On Thursday, January 9th, time has been allotted from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for Questions for Oral Answers. Thereafter, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., the debates on Order under the Sri Lanka Export Development Act, Six Orders under the Special Commodity Levy Act, and Notification under the Welfare Benefits Act are scheduled to be held.

Thereafter, from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the adjournment Debate to be moved by the Opposition will take place.

On Friday, January 10th, the entire day has been dedicated to the Votes of Condolence on the late Members of Parliament Kumara Welgama, H. Nandasena, and Tudor Gunasekera, the Secretary-General said.

News

Maldivian President’s office officials on study tour at Prez secretariat

Published

13 minutes ago

June 23, 2025

editor

Officials from the Maldivian President’s Office arrived at the Presidential Secretariat today for a study tour. They are expected to remain in Sri Lanka until June 27th.

The primary areas of focus for their study tour include archives and records maintenance and preservation, stores management, inventory control and stock preservation.

During their visit, they are scheduled to tour the Department of National Archives, Sri Lanka Customs, Thimbirigasyaya Divisional Secretariat and the Parliament of Sri Lanka.

Eight officials from the Maldivian President’s Office are participating in this study tour. They met with Mr. Roshan Gamage, Senior Additional Secretary to the President, at the Presidential Secretariat and engaged in a discussion.

A group of officials from the Presidential Secretariat also attended the meeting.

(President’s Media Division)

News

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, arrives in SL (Update)

Published

41 minutes ago

June 23, 2025

editor

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk has arrived in the island for an official visit.

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(Previous update 2025/06/23 at 9:11 am)

UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk arrives in SL today

The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights – Volker Türk, is scheduled to arrive in Sri Lanka today (June 23).

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment, and Tourism, he is to remain in the country until June 26.

This is the first visit by a UN Human Rights Chief to Sri Lanka since February 2016.

During his stay, he is expected to meet with the President, Prime Minister, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, several other Cabinet Ministers, Members of Parliament, senior Government officials, religious leaders, representatives of civil society, members of the diplomatic community and the Human Rights Commission of Sri Lanka.

News

Sri Lanka grants clearance for FAO ship

Published

2 hours ago

June 23, 2025

editor

Sri Lanka has officially granted clearance for a research vessel operated by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations to conduct scientific research in Sri Lankan territorial waters, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism said.

The vessel is scheduled to carry out its mission from August 15 – August 20, 2025.

Dr. Fridtjof Nansen is a research vessel that conducts surveys, collecting vital data on fish stocks, biodiversity, and oceanographic conditions. It sought to carry out research activities in Sri Lankan waters, but the government had earlier denied access for it in the absence of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for foreign research vessels.

This posed the possibility of a cancellation, which could have deprived Sri Lanka of over USD 01 million worth of support while affecting future Green Climate Fund initiatives. It was also reported that the next possible deployment would not occur until after 2030.

A year-long moratorium on foreign research vessels expired in December 2024 followed by a cabinet decision in late January to appoint a special committee to amend the SOP for granting diplomatic clearance to foreign research vessels in Sri Lanka.

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